Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga History

The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga was founded in 1918. From the beginning, the Club has personified the Kiwanis motto “Serving the children of the world.” This club is a substantial force in building a better community in Chattanooga. Its initiatives and accomplishments include: 

  • Memorial Auditorium and its later remodeling
  • T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital
  • Hamilton County Juvenile Court
  • The Heart Association
  • Opportunity Home for Girls
  • Goodwill Industries
  • Chickamauga Lock
  • Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau (originally Chattanoogans, Incorporated)
  • Big Brothers/ Big Sisters
  • UTC Stadium
  • YMCA of South Chattanooga
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Sister Cities
  • Victims Offenders Reconciliation Program (VORP). 
The mission of Kiwanis International is “To serve the children of the world, one child and one community at a time.” The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga offers many opportunities to civic-minded business and professional leaders in our community to support organizations and projects that help the children and youth of Chattanooga. The Club sponsors a K-Kids at Clifton Hills Elementary in order to bring the Kiwanis message to Chattanooga’s younger citizens.

Annual Events and Fundraisers: 
The Distinguished Service Award: Each year the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga presents the Distinguished Service Award. This Award is presented to an outstanding citizen or citizens of our community whose life, character and service to others exemplifies the ideals and objectives of Kiwanis. 

The Great Kiwanis Duck Race: Each year, 5,000 rubber ducks are "adopted" for $5.00 each and race in the Tennessee River from Walnut Street Bridge to the Delta Queen's dock. Cash prizes are awarded for the first three ducks. Area non-profits are selected each year to benefit from the proceeds. 

Kiwanathon: The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga solicits sponsorships from local merchants to organize ‘teams’ that consist of teachers, students, parents, and merchant’s employees who participate in a day of fun games and activities designed to raise funding for playgrounds of the beneficiary schools.

Vending Machines: The Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga works with local merchants who are generous enough to allow us to set up our gumball and candy machines in their businesses. Revenues from these machines are distributed annually through the Kiwanis Youth Foundation.

Local groups which have received funds or support from the Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga over the years:

Bethel Bible Village 
Inner City Ministries
Bethlehem Center 
Kids On The Block
Big Brothers / Big Sisters 
Northside Neighborhood House
Boy Scouts of America 
OnPoint 
Boys & Girls Club 
Orange Grove
Candlelighters 
Parents as First Teachers
Chambliss Children's Center 
Partnership for Families, Children's & Adults
Chattanooga Public Library Ready to Read
Chattanooga Red Cross 
Ronald McDonald House
Children's Advocacy Center 
Room In The Inn
Community Kitchen 
Secret Santa
Community Reconciliation Services (VORP) 
Signal Centers
Cranial Facial Foundation 
Siskin Children's Institute
Epilepsy Foundation 
STARS
First Steps 
T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital
First Things First 
Teen Challenge
Girl Scouts 
Tennessee HOBY
Girls Inc. 
Weekend Academy 
Give A Hoot For Kids 
Westside Neighborhood Reading Room
Habitat For Humanity 
Williams Housen Lutheran Homes
Hamilton County 4-H 
YMCA
Toys for Tots

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